Charlie Trimm
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Charlie Trimm

Associate Professor and Chair of Old Testament

DepartmentsDivision of Biblical and Theological Studies
Talbot School of Theology
Biola AffiliationsFaculty
Phone(562) 903-4814 (Talbot School of Theology)

Documents

CV Document (PDF)

Degrees

  • Ph.D., Wheaton College
  • M.Div., Northwest Baptist Seminary
  • M.A., Northwest Baptist Seminary
  • B.S., Western Washington University

Biography

Charlie Trimm loves to inspire students to recognize the beauty of the Old Testament and its relevance for the life of the church today. Having served for several years in pastoral ministry, he strives to encourage the spiritual growth of students in all his classes. He received his Ph.D. from Wheaton College in 2012, writing his dissertation on God acting as a divine warrior in the exodus. His research interests include warfare in the ancient Near East, difficult topics relating to the ethics of God in the Old Testament, Exodus, and J.R.R. Tolkien. He is also a director of Every Voice: A Center for Kingdom Diversity in Christian Theological Education. When he is not teaching or writing, he can often be found spending time with his wife Ayi and four children or watching Arsenal, his favorite football (soccer) team.

Affiliations

  • Tolkien Society (2017-present)
  • Society of Biblical Literature (2007-present)
  • Institute for Biblical Research (2007-present)
  • Evangelical Theological Society (2003-present)

Publications

Books

  • A Biblical Theology of the Divine Warrior (Essential Studies in Biblical Theology; Downers Grove: IVP Academic, under contract)
  • Exodus (co-authored with Chole T. Sun; International Commentary on the Old Testament, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, under contract)
  • Destruction of the Canaanites: A Survey of Recent Approaches (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2022)
  • Understanding Old Testament Theology (co-authored with Brittany Kim; Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2020)
  • Fighting for the King and the Gods: A Survey of Warfare in the Ancient Near East (Atlanta: SBL Press, 2017)
  • “YHWH Fights for Them!” The Divine Warrior in the Exodus Narrative (Gorgias: Piscataway, 2014)

Articles & Chapters

    • “Black Readings of Exodus” (with Brittany Kim and Carmen Imes). Currents in Biblical Research 23 (2024): 80–99.
    • “The Tenth Plague: An Ethical Overview.” Journal for the Study of the Bible and Violence. Forthcoming.
    • “Battlefield Rape in the Ancient Near East: Hiding the Horror.” In Brill’s Companion to War Violence the Ancient Mediterranean World. Edited by Lennart Gilhaus. Leiden: Brill. Forthcoming.
    • “Afterward: Reimagining Theological Education and Careers in Biblical Studies” (with Brittany Kim). Pages 229–35 in What Can You Do with Your Bible Training? Traditional and Nontraditional Vocational Paths. Edited by Brandon C. Benzinger and Adam W. Day. Cascade: Eugene, OR, 2023.
    • “Arrogant or Divinely Appointed? Ancient Near Eastern Attempts to Explain Courageous Enemies.” In Brill’s Companion to Courage and Cowardice in Ancient Warfare. Edited by Jenn Finn. Leiden: Brill. Forthcoming.
    • “Gandalf, Sauron, Melian, and the Balrogs as Angels? A Study of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Maiar in the Context of Biblical Angelology.” Pages 99–118 in Tolkien and Theology. Edited by Douglas Estes. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2024.
    • “Tolkien’s War Gods: Studying Tolkien’s View of War through the Characterization of Makar and Tulkas.” Pages 346-53 in Proceedings of Tolkien 2019. Edited by Will Sherwood. Edinburgh: Luna Press, 2024.
    • “Warfare and Intelligence Gathering in Ancient Israel.” Pages 317–31 in The Ancient Israelite World. Edited by Kyle Keimer and George A. Pierce. London: Routledge, 2022.
    • “Praying Against Enemies: Biblical Precedents, Ethical Reflections, and Suggested Guidelines,” Pages 69–83 in Righteous Indignation: Christian Philosophical and Theological Perspectives on Anger. Edited by Gregory L. Bock and Court D. Lewis. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2021.
    • “Causes of Genocide,” Pages 31–49 in The Cultural History of Genocide Volume 1: The Ancient World. Edited by Tristan Taylor. London: Bloomsbury, 2021.
    • “The Sword of YHWH: The Human Use of Divine Weapons in the Ancient Near East and the Hebrew Bible.” Pages 293–304 in For Us, but Not to Us: Essays on Creation, Covenant, and Context in Honor of John H. Walton. Edited by Adam E. Miglio, Caryn A. Reeder, Joshua T. Walton, and Kenneth C. Way. Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2020.

    Presentations

    • “Recent Research on Levitical Herem and Herem in the Mesha Stela” (2025 ETS National Meeting)
    • “Job 42:5–7 and a Biblical Theology of Lament” (2024 IBR National Meeting)
    • “The Tenth Plague: An Ethical Overview” (2022 ETS National Meeting)
    • “Genesis 9:20–27: Exegesis” (2021 IBR National Meeting)
    • “Imperialism and the Israelite Kingship: The Narrator’s Critique of David’s Behavior as King in His International Wars” (2020 IBR National Meeting)
    • “Gods or Angels? Blurring the Distinction in Tolkien’s Middle-earth and the Old Testament” (2020 ETS National Meeting)
    • “Battlefield Rape in the Ancient Near East and the Old Testament: Hiding and Exposing the Horror” (2020 ETS National Meeting)
    • “The Story of Tamar, Amnon, and David as a Cautionary Tale for Those Ignoring the Sexual Sins of Church Leaders” (2019 ETS Annual Meeting)
    • “Tolkien’s War Gods: Studying Tolkien’s View of War through the Characterization of Makar and Tulkas” (2019 Tolkien Conference)
    • “Should I Pray for the Peace or Destruction of Babylon? The Intersection of Enemy Love and Imprecatory Psalms in the Old Testament” (2018 IBR Annual Meeting)
    • “Christ in Judges and Ruth? A Survey of Recent Studies on Finding Jesus in the Old Testament” (2016 ETS Annual Meeting, with Uche Anizor)
    • “Defining Genocide in the Ancient Near East: Insights from Genocide Studies” (2016 SBL Annual Meeting)

      Research Interests

      • Warfare and Violence in the Old Testament and the Ancient Near East
      • Old Testament Theology
      • The Works of J. R. R. Tolkien
      • Diversity and the Old Testament
      • Old Testament Ethics
      • Exodus

      Courses

      • Associate Professor, Talbot School of Theology (Fall 2018–present)
        • Geography of Israel
        • Old Testament History and Literature
        • Joshua, Judges, and Ruth
        • Kings
        • Divine Violence in the Old Testament
        • OT Ethics and Theology
      • Assistant Professor, Talbot School of Theology (2012–18)
        • Biblical Interpretation and Spiritual Formation
        • Joshua, Judges, and Ruth
        • Kings
        • Divine Violence in the Old Testament
      • Adjunct Instructor at Moody Bible Institute (2010–12), Corban University School of Ministry (2010), and Northwest Baptist Seminary (2005–07)

      Books

      The Destruction of the Canaanites: God, Genocide, and Biblical InterpretationThe Destruction of the Canaanites: God, Genocide, and Biblical Interpretation
      Understanding Old Testament Theology: Mapping the Terrain of Recent ApproachesUnderstanding Old Testament Theology: Mapping the Terrain of Recent Approaches
      Fighting for the King and the Gods: A Survey of Warfare in the Ancient Near East (Resources for Biblical Study 88)Fighting for the King and the Gods: A Survey of Warfare in the Ancient Near East (Resources for Biblical Study 88)

      Areas of Expertise for Media Interviews

      • Old Testament
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